Name: David Stern

Birth date: Sept 22, 1942

Birth place: New York City

Career

1966: Outside counsel representing NBA

1978: NBA's general counsel

1980: Executive vice president of NBA

1984-present: Fourth commissioner of NBA, succeeding Larry O'Brien

Highlights

1980-1984: Reached two landmark decisions with the NBA Players Association on drug testing and team salary cap.

1991: Successfully brought NBA games to Chinese audience by providing CCTV (China Central Television) a free broadcasting deal during his first visit to China.

1996: Oversaw the foundation of the Women's National Basketball Association.

2002: Houston Rockets make Chinese center Yao Ming the No 1 pick in the draft, cementing league's ties with China.

Oct 2004: Launched NBA preseason games in China with games between Yao's Rockets and the Sacramento Kings in Shanghai and Beijing.

2005: Launched NBDL (National Basketball Development League), the NBA's official minor league basketball association.

Current: Under Stern's management, the NBA has expanded from 23 to 30 franchises, and is televised in 215 countries in 43 languages. The NBA has 11 offices in cities outside of the United States. Reached a new collective bargaining agreement that ended 2011 lockout.

(China Daily 02/12/2012 page8)